Corrugated sheet-metal sectional casing for culverts, drainage-casings, &amp;c.



, A. SMITH.: A LMSEGTIONAL UASING POB GULVEBTS, DRAINAGE GASINGS, im;

v OOB'BUGLTBD SHEET META Arrm'o''non FILED Arx. 13. 1912.

A. SMITH. GOBRUQATBD SHEET METAL sBcTIoNAL CASING PoR GULVERTS DRAINAGE GASINGS, &c.

APPLICATION FILED APR.13. 1912.

Patented Ja.11.7, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

A. SMITH. GOBBUGATBD SHEET METAL SECTIONAL CASING FOR GLVERTS DRAINAGE OASINGS, tbc.

APPLICATION FILED APRJS, 1912.

Patented Jan. 7, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

VIIIIIIIIIIIIII witnesses UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW SMITH, OF SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO SMITH METAL PERFO- RATING COMPANY, 0F SAN MATEO, CALIFORNIA.

CORRUGATED SHEET-METAL SECTIONAL CASING FOR CULVERTS, DRAINAGE- CASINGS, &c.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 13, 1912.

Patented Jan. 7, 1913. serial No. 690,519.

To all whom it may concern f Be it known that I, ANDREW SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Mateo, in the county of San Mateo and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corrugated Sheet-Metal Sectional Casings for Culverts, Drainage-Casings, &c., of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to sheet metal casings for culverts, drainage conduits, tunnels, etc., and more particularly to the nestable type, which are adapted to be transported in disconnected sections iw lcd together and assembled at the place of' use..

The main object of my present invention is to provide simple means for ,se cue-ug the complementary sections of the au 't or conduit together, and to form lateral flanged joints which constitute longitudinal strengthening ribs capable of resisting' the pressures andI lateral thrusts induced by the pressure of the load supported by the conduit and transmitted through the .arches of the upper sections.

Another object is to reinforce the flange construction, and to give the assembled structure increased strength and rigidity.

With these and other objects in view which will appear from the following description, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1. 2, 3, and 7 are perspective views of corrugated casings for culverts and conduits showing my invention embodied in different forms or modifications; Fig. 4 is a detail cross-sectional view of my invention applied to a union joint connecting two adjacent casings: Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views of arched culverts embodying my invention: Fig. 8 is a perspective view snowing my invention applied to a sectional casing adapted to be used for cattle-passes, tunnels or shafts; Fig. 9 is a perspective view of a flume having reinforced flanges embodying my invention; Fig. 10 is a front elevation of an abutment or shield embodying mv invent-ion; and Fig. l1 is a vertical section showing the manner of connecting the abutment to the end of the conduit casing.

The complementary sections l. 2. 0f the gated, as desired. I prefer the corrugated l construction because of the far greater strength and rigidity. The lateral securing flanges or side seams, by which the upper and lower companion sections are united, receive the downward pressure due to the load supported by the upper arch, and the rivets or bolts passing through the flanges receive the shearing stresses tending `to spread the arch of the upper section outwardly. It is the purpose of my invention to provide such a reinforcement to the flanges and the adjacent metal that the entire joint will be greatly stiffe-ned and strengthened, and the lateral shearing stresses will be resisted by an anchorage upon the body of the adjacent metal.

The mplest form of my' reinforced flanged joint is illustrated in Fig. '1. The metal of the flange is plain and unoorrugated, and after being turned outwardly, as at 4, the metal of the flange is returned or doubled upon itself and the end or projectling edge 5 of the sheet is then bentbackV against the ends of the corrugations of the body portion, and bears laterally against the body of its own section, thereby forming an anchor or brace member for the flange and at the same time reinforcing the metal adjacent the flange which is subjected to the crushing weight of the superimposed load upon the arch. The anchor or bracing member 5, therefore, performs a very important function in giving strength and rigidity to the flange and the adjacent metal of the body portion. Aside from t-he twofold strength of the two layers of metal in each section of the flange, any tendency of the flange to bend or yield transversely is resisted by the auxiliary anchor or transverse bracing member 5, which transmits the lateral pressures upon the flange inwardly against the corrugated body portion. I prefer to corrugate the anchor-member 5 to conform to the corrugations of the body por tion, this being done simultaneously with the formation of the main corrugations.

In Fig. 2, the flange of the lower section is made'wider than the flange of the upper section, and is turned upwardly to form ar vertical retaining or lateral thrust member 8. which entirely relieves the rivets or bolts `thereto.

9 of any shearing action due to the tendency of the upper arch to spread laterally. Note again that the lateral thrust upon the retaining-members or lips 8, is transmitted through the anchor members 5 to the corrugated body portion. which adds very materially to the strength of the joint in addition to the doubling of the metal of the several parts of the union.

Instead of returning the auxiliary bracing member 5 upon the inside of the body portion, it may be bent back to abut the outside of the body member as shown at 5a, in Fig. 3. In this form, I may employ an auxiliary longitudinal strengthening and stifl'ening member in the shape of a T-iron 10, its web constituting a spacer between the upper andv lower flange members, and being bolted The head or flange of the T-iron bears against the inner sides of the adjacent sections and ijs preferably corrugated to conform tothe wa ls of the sections. The head or flange of the T-iron forms an anchor to resist lateral thrust and any tendency of the sections to spread. It Will be understood that I may employ this auxiliary stifl'ening T-iron with the forms of flanges shown in any of the other figures. rIhis form is also Well adapted to the compound joint shown in Fig. 4, uniting tWo adjacent parallel conduits or culverts. In this case the reinforcing'bar is in the form of an I-beam 10a, the opposite flanges of which bear against the adjacent inner walls of the respective casings.

The T-bar may be omitted as shown in Fig. 7. rIhe transverse bracing member 5, as in the 'forms previously described, serves the two-fold function of resisting lateral thrusts tending to bend the flange and of reinforcing the body portion at the terminals of the corrugations Where pressures from the arch are received.

In Fig. 5, I have shown my reinforced flange joint applied to an arched culvert or conduit. I prefer to corrugate both the upper arched section 1a and the lower or flatbottom section 1Q. The reinforced lateral flange is substantially the same as that of Fig. 1, previously described. The returned member 4al of the bottom is preferably carried back inside of the meeting line of the arched upper section in order to stiffen the pressure line of the base.

In Fig. 6, I have shown an arched culvert having a Wide extended arched section 1b, With the intermediate portion braced and supported by means of one or more I-beams 14, 14. IVhile I-beams of the ordinary form may be employed, as shown at 14, I prefer to employ beams With corrugated flanges as shown at 14', Which correspond With the corrugations of the culvert sect-ions, in order to more effectually brace and support the Walls of the casing. When the beams are formed of sheet metal, I prefer to also provide the web With transverse corrugations to strengthen and stiffen the beam. The reinforced flange joint is substantially the same as that previously described in connection with Fig. 2. It is to be understood that I may employ the supporting I-beams in any of the casings illustrated in the several figures of the drawings.

My reinforced flange joint is adapted to large casings intended for tunnels, or for the lining of mine shafts. In Fig. 8, I have shown a multi-sectional casing inthe form of a cattle-pass adapted to pass through embankments. 'Ihe outstanding 4reinforced flanges 4, are formed substantiallylike those shown in Fig. 7, except that they areupon the inside of the casing instead of upon the outside. The sections of the casing may thus be assembled and these outstanding flanges riveted or Abolted from the inside, thereby adapting this form of casing to tunnels Which are bored or driven through the earth. The end flange 4b will be described in connection with Fig. 9. A plank or cement platform 18, may be Aplaced across the bottom of the casing.

In Fig. 9,1 have shown my reinforced flange applied to a flume comprising a single series of lower sections. In this case the sides are extended into substantial parallelism to form a deeper channel. The lateral edges are provided with strengthening flanges 4, and the ends of the. sections are united by flanged joints 4b, each of which embody my reinforced braced flange, sub stantially in the form shown in Fig. 7, previously described. It will be observed that the outstanding reinforced flange is braced against lateral bending strains by the auxiliary brace members 5al which bear against the body portion. It is to be understood that the ends of adjacent sections of the culverts and conduits shown in all of the gures may be provided with reinforced braced flanges such as illustrated in Fig. 9. The brace memberl of the lateral flange is preferably corrugated to fit the terminals of the body corrugations in the manner better shown in Fig. 7. A flume constructed in this manner is exceedingly rigid, which is important when carried upon a trestle or other support in Which the supports are spaced apart. The corrugations furnish rigidity transversely and the lateral reinforced flanges and brace members forming practically an angle iron construction, constitute stiffening and bracing members which make the flume very strong and rigid longitudinally.

The terminals of the culverts or conduits which project from embankments are provided with abutments or shields, and I prefer to employ my radially corrugated abutment 20, illustrated in Fig. 10. The face of the abutment or shield may be in a. single plane or may be concave, so that any obstruction, as a falling tree, may not obstruct the opening or mouth of the culvert. It has been proposed to corrugate theabutments either horizontally or vertically for the purpose of stiffening the meta-l, but in either case the abutment is strengthened only in one direction. The purpose of my radially I extending ribs or corrugations 2l, is to produce a plate which shall resist the strains and pressures in all directions. The importance of this will be appreciated by engineers.

For the purpose of stiffening the margins of the abutment, I provide each edge with my outstanding reinforced braced flange as previously described, and I also fold or bend the edges of the metal around the culvert opening back to form a reinforced flange for the bolts or rivets securing the same to the end of the terminal culvert section, as ,illustrated in Fig. ll'in cross-section.

I have/described the constructions illustrated in the accompanying drawings in detail for the purpose of disclosing embodiments of my invention, but I am aware that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of my claims or from the spirit of my invention.

A.I claim v l. A sheet metal culvert or conduit Section provided with outstanding flanged edges having the metal doubled back upon itself to form a reinforcement, and a brace member integral with said reinforcement and bearing laterally against the body portion of its section.

2. A corrugated sheet metal culvert, flume, or conduit section, provided with outstanding flanged edges having the metal doubled back upon itself to form a reinforcement, and a corrugated brace member integral with said reinforcement and abutting thc body portion of the section, the corrugations of said member being in juXtaposition with the corrugations of the body portion.

3. A sheet metal culvert comprising a series of sectional units and a terminal abutment connected into a continuous casing, said units consisting of complementary sections, said sections and terminal abutment being provided with corrugations and connected to each other by means of reinforced flanges, and each of said flanges having an sections, each duits, or tunnels, comprisingr complementary sections, each provided with projecting flanged edges havmg the metal thereof re- 'turned upon itself, anda brace-member in-` tegral with the flanged edges and bearing laterally against the body portion of its section.

`the body portion of the section adjacent said edges, and a shaped iron member having a web extending between the meeting flanged edges of adjacent sections and having a flanged head extending in opposite direc tions from the web and adapted to engage the edges of both sections.

6. A sheet metal casing for culverts, conduits, or tunnels, comprising complementary provided with projecting flanged edges having the tegral with the flanged edges and bearing against the body portion of the section adjacent said edges, the flange upon one of said sections extending beyond the flange upon the complementary section and having an upturned lip to engage the outer edge of said complementary flange.

7. A sheet metal casing for culverts, conduits, or tunnels, comprising com lementary sections, each provided with projecting flanged edges having the met-al thereof returned upon itself, and one of said sections having a brace-member integral with the flanged edges and bearing laterally against the body portion of its section adjacent the flanged edge:

8. A sheet metal casing for culverts, conduits, or tunnels, comprising complementary sections, each provided' with projecting flanged edges having the metal thereof returned upon itself, and one of said sections `having a brace-member integral with the flanged edges and bearing against the body portion of the section adjacent the flanged edge, the upper section having an arched wall, and an intermediate support extending between the walls of the upper and lower sections.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ANDREW SMITH.

integral brace member and bearing laterally l* Witnesses:

E. C. BROWN, CHARLES N. MURRAY.

metal thereof re-V vturned upon itself, and a brace-member in- 

